Nova Scotia (Latin for New Scotland; ; ) is a Canadian province located on the country's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada, and its capital, Halifax, is a major economic centre of the region. Geographically, Nova Scotia is the second smallest province in Canada, with an area of . As of April 2024, it has a population of 1,072,545 people.
Population history
Year Population % change Rank*</tr> 5-year 10-year</tr> 1827 123,630 – – n/a</tr> 1837 199,906 – 62.0</tr> 1851 276,854 – –</tr> 1861 330,857 – 19.5</tr> 1871 387,800 – 17.2 3</tr> 1881 440,572 – 13.6</tr> 1891 450,396 – 2.2</tr> 1901 459,574 – 2.0</tr> 1911 492,338 – 7.1 4</tr> 1921 523,837 – 6.4 7</tr> 1931 512,846 – - 2.1</tr> 1941 577,962 – 12.7</tr> 1951 642,584 – 11.2</tr> 1956 694,717 8.1 – </tr> 1961 737,007 6.1 14.7 </tr> 1966 756,039 2.6 8.8</tr> 1971 788,965 4.4 7.0</tr> 1976 828,570 5.0 9.6</tr> 1981 847,442 2.3 7.4</tr> 1986 873,175 3.0 5.4</tr> 1991 899,942 3.1 6.2</tr> 1996 909,282 1.0 4.1</tr> 2001 908,007 - 0.1 0.9</tr> 2006 913,462 0.6 2.8</tr> 2011 921,727 0.9 1.5</tr> 2016 923,5980.2 1.1</tr> 2021 969,3835.0 5.2</tr>
Population geography Population centres
The Halifax population centre is the largest urban area in Nova Scotia. Statistics Canada recognizes a total of 37 population centres in the province.Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and population centres, 2011 and 2006 censuses: Nova Scotia . Statistics Canada.
Municipalities Nova Scotia has four regional municipalities.
Towns
Nova Scotia has 25 towns.
Towns of Nova Scotia
Ethnic origins
Note: the percentages do not necessarily add up to 100% as multiple responses are allowed. Ethnic origins with less than 2% of the responses are not listed. +Ethnic origin (Canada 2016 Census)Population groupPopulation% of total populationCanadian387,36042.6%Scottish272,88030.0%English262,37528.9%Irish195,86521.6%French149,62516.5%German97,55510.7%First Nations (Indigenous North American)48,6405.4%Dutch32,0453.5%Métis26,0252.9%Acadian23,7002.6%
Visible minorities and Indigenous peoples
+Visible minority & Indigenous population in Nova Scotia (1986–2021)GroupPopulation2021 census2016 census2011 census2006 census2001 census1996 census1991 census1986 census Non-Indigenous / non-visible minority group British Isles 495,625 513,730 547,230 542,135 491,555 578,650 726,975 729,035 French 171,100 173,740 174,850 170,295 155,285 174,145 179,185 165,770 Western European 115,120 125,110 125,775 131,505 115,810 129,705 140,360 120,520 European, & 47,860 3,145 5,215 4,375 31,350 3,940 4,470 4,405 Southern European 31,355 28,680 26,440 25,265 21,050 20,065 19,235 14,655 Eastern European 30,735 29,685 26,515 25,295 20,695 18,835 19,015 16,005 Northern European 19,685 14,980 14,640 13,805 10,285 10,065 8,270 5,990 Total non-Indigenous / non-visible minority population 810,000 798,200 825,055 841,230 846,030 856,665 838,065 825,555 Visible minority group Black 28,220 21,915 20,785 19,225 19,670 18,110 16,625 13,600 South Asian 21,650 7,910 4,960 3,810 2,890 3,295 2,750 2,315 Chinese 11,595 8,645 6,050 4,300 3,290 3,210 2,695 1,850 Arab 10,605 8,110 6,285 4,505 3,615 Filipino 6,615 3,405 1,890 700 655 615 315 275 Latin American 2,910 1,685 1,360 950 520 315 625 465 Korean 2,840 1,540 955 800 585 295 200 25 Multiple visible minorities 2,750 1,390 1,290 1,030 535 450 385 405 Southeast Asian 2,405 1,190 1,160 815 790 680 795 565 West Asian 1,875 1,540 1,365 780 385 Japanese 985 695 445 505 420 360 305 135 Visible minority, 970 635 720 255 1,170 250 55 10 Arab/West Asian 3,745 5,985 4,765 Total visible minority population 93,430 58,650 47,270 37,685 34,525 31,320 30,725 24,390 Indigenous group First Nations 28,050 25,830 21,895 15,240 12,920 10,910 19,950 12,780 Métis 21,090 23,315 10,050 7,680 3,135 825 1,590 890 Indigenous responses, 1,305 720 980 830 555 Inuk (Inuit) 1,100 790 695 320 345 210 770 285 Multiple Indigenous responses 885 835 225 100 55 30 250 Total Indigenous population 52,430 51,490 33,845 24,175 17,015 11,985 22,160 14,205 Total responses 955,860 908,340 906,170 903,090 897,570 899,970 890,950 864,150 Total population 969,383 923,598 921,727 913,462 908,007 909,282 899,942 873,175
Language
Knowledge of languages
The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The following figures are from the 2021 Canadian Census and the 2016 Canadian Census, and lists languages that were selected by at least 0.5 per cent of respondents. +Knowledge of languages in Nova ScotiaLanguage20212016Pop. English 951,945 905,020 99.63% French 99,300 95,740 10.54% Arabic 11,745 9,685 1.07% Hindi 10,115 N/A <0.5% Spanish 8,675 6,990 0.77% Mandarin 8,525 5,435 0.6% Punjabi 6,730 N/A <0.5% German 6,665 6,335 0.7% Miꞌkmaq 5,650 5,540 0.61% Tagalog 5,595 N/A <0.5%
Mother tongue
The 2021 Canadian census showed a population of 969,383.Of the 941,105 singular responses to the census question concerning mother tongue the most commonly reported languages were: Ranking Language Population Percentage1.English851,54590.48%2.French27,3402.91%3.Arabic7,9600.85%4.Mandarin6,7300.72%5.Punjabi4,5500.48%6.Tagalog3,2400.34%7.Mi'kmaq3,1450.33%8.German3,0500.32%9.Spanish2,6800.28%10.Korean2,3400.25%11.Hindi2,0350.22%12.Malayalam1,9750.21%13.Russian1,7350.18%14.Persian1,4350.15%15.Dutch1,3950.15%16.Portuguese1,3050.14%17.Yue (Cantonese)1,2500.13%18.Gujarati1,1600.12%19.Urdu9650.10%20.Vietnamese9500.10%21.Bengali8900.09%22.Polish8700.09%23.Telugu7500.08%24.Italian7300.08%25.Greek7100.08%26.Serbo-Croatian5800.06%27.Tamil5550.06%
Religion Religious groups in Nova Scotia (1981−2021)Religious group2021 Canadian census2011 Canadian census2001 Canadian census1991 Canadian census1981 Canadian census Christianity 556,115 690,460 780,530 815,815 800,325 Irreligion 359,395 197,665 106,405 68,010 34,335 Islam 14,715 8,505 3,545 1,435 790 Hinduism 8,460 1,850 1,235 970 1,025 Sikhism 4,735 390 270 330 275 Buddhism 2,955 2,205 1,735 1,485 420 Judaism 2,195 1,805 2,120 1,950 2,010 Indigenous spirituality 1,090 570 270 45 15 Other 6,195 2,720 1,450 910 605 Total responses 955,855 906,175 897,570 890,950 839,800 Total population 969,383 921,727 908,007 899,942 847,442
Migration Immigration Nova Scotia immigration statistics (1861–2021)Census yearImmigrant percentageImmigrant populationTotal responsesTotal populationSource(s)1861 Census of Nova Scotia36,151330,857330,8571871 Canadian census32,456387,800387,8001881 Canadian census27,713440,572440,5721891 Canadian census26,315450,396450,3961901 Canadian census24,402459,574459,5741911 Canadian census36,375492,338492,3381921 Canadian census43,505523,837523,8371931 Canadian census41,797512,846512,8461941 Canadian census40,741577,962577,9621951 Canadian census28,680642,584642,5841961 Canadian census34,168737,007737,0071971 Canadian census37,190788,960788,9601981 Canadian census41,715839,800847,4421986 Canadian census40,465864,150873,1761991 Canadian census39,110890,950899,9421996 Canadian census41,955899,970909,2822001 Canadian census41,315897,570908,0072006 Canadian census45,190903,090913,4622011 Canadian census48,275906,175921,7272016 Canadian census55,680908,340923,5982021 Canadian census71,570955,855969,383
The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 71,570 persons or 7.5 percent of the total population of Nova Scotia. +Immigrants in Nova Scotia by country of birthCountry of birth2021 census2016 census2011 census2006 census2001 census1996 census1991 census1986 census1981 census1971 census1961 census1951 census1941 census1931 censusUnited Kingdom11,93011,27011,00011,66010,80012,21012,04513,44514,19013,96514,42913,18012,31613,552United States7,5707,3758,2757,9608,0658,8159,4859,90511,3358,7807,3897,5558,6337,222India5,6052,2251,4151,4401,1401,3701,1901,1751,140890119866680Philippines4,7552,5751,325420495460245235245China & Taiwan4,5003,0552,1451,8301,150910620560520510358331286297Syria & Lebanon3,9852,5201,7801,4001,6401,3051,125975995336365Germany & Austria2,4852,7452,5302,9952,6602,5051,8802,2752,7452,9501,771453514635Nigeria & Ghana1,93552536525516516514511580Netherlands1,4651,6451,5301,8301,9752,0702,0002,1051,9451,9102,2226079529Russia & Ukraine1,320930725385310365240230345495762901831852South Korea1,220865570425310180952020Jamaica & Trinidad and Tobago1,045705390410375415505535465335401444500564Iran1,04097091040022018522018050Egypt97076557067026040517510575Former Yugoslavia950730430670635640215210150160195111134245Pakistan90061534545023539015013516085Poland7656255759707306559607005506658349301,0541,262South Africa71046031032016022522518512058265037France & Belgium680720545710620585525660700815860635752951Vietnam675450450375535515510495480Israel & Palestine625505280155225145258055Australia & New Zealand5904304104403453202102452152551328610882Ireland5554756354253753504803751853351,006796880990Kenya & Tanzania & Uganda55528526024519016514580160Kuwait545615695780770535Bangladesh54031533513510150510Saudi Arabia50037033525523090Italy490525480540575560670715725900830466606742Scandinavia440495470460560555485535590780698617687690Brazil44017565258045301545Iraq440525455250240140551010Ethiopia & Eritrea4003202051401001553045Jordan38539528517010035Sri Lanka37531019095205200954530Mexico3553301851857595756515Hong Kong350280290280470540345165265DR Congo & Cameroon34518010540251530100United Arab Emirates33026519510520565Turkey32027017085110901051755084Sudan & South Sudan3151309065700500Romania31018019013013585704045306157106174Greece30051035555063554558056074555041112910896Japan3002251351855011530304545157136Switzerland29021021521513014560120705546323523Colombia270175290115100155Guyana2551701701251501005513065Czech Republic & Slovakia250210135250245215185240240285231227272373Portugal235220120220215215270310245110El Salvador & Guatemala & Nicaragua2151758055651052601520Hungary215110185230210185260235285260351201302421Total immigrants71,57055,68048,27545,19041,31541,95539,11040,46541,71537,19034,16828,68040,74141,797Total responses955,855908,340906,175903,090897,570899,970890,950864,150839,800788,960737,007642,584577,962512,846Total population969,383923,598921,727913,462908,007909,282899,942873,176847,442788,960737,007642,584577,962512,846
Recent immigration The 2021 Canadian census counted a total of 21,385 people who immigrated to Nova Scotia between 2016 and 2021. Recent immigrants to Nova Scotia by Country of birth (2016 to 2021)Country of BirthPopulation% recent immigrantsIndia3,665Philippines2,325Syria2,140China2,045Nigeria1,445United States880United Kingdom730South Korea580Pakistan375Egypt375Bangladesh350Jamaica325Ukraine265Brazil260South Africa225Saudi Arabia225Iran220Russia205Vietnam205Germany185Israel180Jordan175Lebanon175Sudan160Democratic Republic of the Congo160Total recent immigrants21,385
Interprovincial migration
From 1971 to 2011, Nova Scotia had a persistent negative trend in net interprovincial migration. Combined with a declining birth rate, this posed a significant demographic challenge for the province, as its population was projected to decline. The destination for Nova Scotia migrants was most often Ontario, until the turn of the 21st century when Alberta became a more popular destination; New Brunswick ranks as a distant third.
+Interprovincial migration in Nova ScotiaIn-migrantsOut-migrantsNet migration2008–0915,46716,218−7512009–1015,17214,5606122010–1114,55314,594−412011–1214,41017,276−2,8662012–1312,63016,147−3,5172013–1413,40215,973−2,5712014–1513,85416,165−2,3112015–1615,10714,3537542016–1715,33912,5002,8392017–1815,50912,4613,0482018–1917,32414,0183,306 Source: Statistics Canada
Employment As of February 2019, the unemployment rate for the province is 6.4 percent. Halifax Regional Municipality 4.9 percent Unemployment rate
Income